IN “KEPLER’S DREAM,” LYNCH IS AMY, A MOTHER FIGHTING CANCER AND STRUGGLING TO RAISE ELLA (ISABELLA BLAKE-THOMAS), A YOUNG ‘TWEEN FORCED TO MATURE QUICKLY AMIDST SUSPICIONS, BETRAYALS, AND HEARTBREAK THAT HAVE BURDENED HER FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS.
KELLY LYNCH ON “KEPLER’S DREAM,” HER CAREER AND OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
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BY ALEX A. KECSKES
est known as Matt Dillon’s love interest in “Drugstore Cowboy,” the sultry ‘Doc’ in “Road House” and Jean Price in “The Jacket,” Minneapolis born Kelly Lynch was an Elite model and studied acting under the direction of Sanford Meisner. Lynch also earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her role in “The Beans of Egypt, Maine.” She has appeared in “Magic City,” “90210,” and the “L Word” and currently stars as Deborah Hartsfield in the Stephen King TV series “Mr. Mercedes.” In “Kepler’s Dream,” Lynch is Amy, a mother fighting cancer and struggling to raise Ella (Isabella BlakeThomas), a young ‘tween forced to mature quickly amidst suspicions, betrayals, and heartbreak that have burdened her family for generations. HW: Thank you for taking the time for this interview. “Kepler’s Dream” is an inspirational family drama. What drew you to the role of Amy in this film?
16 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
KL: My sister in law, Amy Glazer, brought me into this project. She’s one of the top theater directors in the country. She has an amazing ear for dialog and has discovered a lot of talent. She’s done three little movies—“Seducing Charlie Barker,” “Drifting Elegant,” and “Kepler’s Dream.” Amy found the material, raised all the money, and befriended the book’s author, Juliet Bell. She mentioned that “Kepler’s Dream” would make a beautiful young adult movie—lots of female characters, a very empowered young girl, and as you mentioned, some Nancy Drew sleuthing. I was looking for a film about an empowered, adventurous young person. We have so much princess stuff out there, which I was never really interested in, nor was my daughter. When I read the book and Amy told me I’d be perfect to play Ella’s mother—a small, but important role—I thought, this is wonderful. And when Amy worked on the script, it just got better and better. My husband, an un-credited writer in the screenplay, felt that the male characters were underdeveloped and needed to be living, breathing people, even though the story was focused on Ella.